Firstly I'm a little disappointed that there was no 'changes since last
version'
summary for formatting objects.
Secondly, it seems to me that the area-container and block-areas concepts
encompass HTML tables - I'd like to see a paragraph clarifying this
relationship.
One concern is that the layout model of area containers doesn't map
naturally onto a grid. If we have a grid of with column widths varying
across the grid, then that requires very careful specification of ac
positions.
In other words, whilst the area model may be powerful enough to generate
HTML tables, its model may be too awkward for most people. I think we need
higher-level two-dimensional layout constructs which generate area
containers.
There are also other desirable high-level layout patterns, as seen in
Fresco http://www.hgmp.mrc.ac.uk/Documentation/Fresco/fresco/Examples.html
and which are well implemented in Rogue Wave's zApp framework.
Andy Dent BSc MACS AACM, Software Designer, A.D. Software, Western Australia
OOFILE - Database, Reports, Graphs, GUI for c++ on Mac, Unix & Windows
PP2MFC - PowerPlant->MFC portability
http://www.highway1.com.au/adsoftware/crossplatform.html
In SF for Macworld Jan 1st-9th 1999, at the AppMaker stand in DevDepot